Champagne Egly-Ouriet, "Les Prémices" Brut, NV

A glorious champagne with a very fine mousse, a lovely balance of chalky-minerality and orchard fruit on the nose and a stunning texture, combining red apple, plum and citrus notes with freshly baked bread on a stunningly textural palate. Showing the complexity that few others can achieve a this price point, Les Prémices certainly marks out the Grower Champagne territory with style.

Egly-Ouriet is widely considered to be one of the genuine pioneers of the Grower Champagne movement, whose wines stand as a benchmark for truly exceptional, authentic Champagne. Founded in 1930, Egly-Ouriet has attained something of a cult status across the globe, with a staunchly loyal fanbase including one Robert Parker. 

Francis Egly is the fourth generation of the Egly family to make wines from their exceptionally located, old vine vineyards in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay (home to some of the greatest Pinot Noir that can be found in all of Champagne), where he is considered the finest grower. Taking over from his father Michel in 1980, with the intent and commitment to take these already revered Pinot Noir dominant Champagnes to the absolute apex of quality, he began using organic methods in the vineyards, with regular ploughing, and reduced yields. Once the grapes enter his cellar, Francis makes sure to only allow for the gentlest possible extraction, of which he only keeps the purest first pressing (known as the cuvée). He believes deeply that complexity and structure comes not only from perfect fruit, but also from extended lees ageing. This belief is felt throughout his line-up, with most of his wines undergoing a minimum of 48 months on the lees with some cuvées being aged for over 100 months! All of this meticulous work in both vineyard and cellar has led to his standing by both his peers, critics and Champagne lovers across the world as one of the greatest growers in all of France.

Les Prémices is the result of an equal blend of the three classic Champagne grapes; Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, all grown in the village of Trigny. Stainless fermented and aged three years in the bottle, it is a wonderfully vinous champagne. 

Grower Champagne is now firmly established as a source of great, individual wines that offer something different to the established brands (Grandes Marques) that have dominated sales and production in the region for so long. The concept of owning, farming and then making wine is not a stretch in most regions (and, indeed, many of the larger houses in Champagne own at least some vineyards from which they make wine), but the focus on quality of fruit and effort in the vineyard to produce high quality sparkling wine is the essence of these wines. 

Champagne Egly-Ouriet is known for its dedication to traditional and meticulous winemaking methods - old vines, low yields, hand harvesting of fully ripe fruit, extended lees aging, no fining or filtration, low dosage and meticulous attention to detail. The estate has embraced biodynamic farming practices, as well as prioritising organic and sustainable agriculture. These practices aim to enhance the overall health of the vineyards, improve grape quality, and reflect the unique terroir in the final wines. The winery follows a minimalist approach in the cellar, using natural yeasts for fermentation and avoiding excessive manipulation of the wines. This approach allows the grapes’ natural characteristics to shine through in the final Champagne.

With such focus and dedication, it is no wonder the wines of Egly Ouriet are some of the best in the region. The wines of Egly Ouriet are precise and yet incredibly moreish wines that should be bought with supreme confidence, when you can find them!